Winkle Picker Fest - When New Englanders Go Barnyard Crazy!

24Jan

Italy & Brazil have Carnivale. Germany has Fasching. New Orleans has Mardi Gras. Ashfield has

- when New Englanders Go Barnyard Crazy! February 17-19

And while those other festivals are all tied to the last possible blow-out moments before the contemplative days of Lent, out here in the Protestant hinterlands, WinklePicker is tied to the hardest part of the year – when the novelty of winter has worn off, warmth is still half a globe-turn away and you’d like something to do besides plow snow and rake roofs. WinklePicker stirs all the warmth of music, dancing, community, eating and drinking up together in one big, roiling pot. WinklePicker celebrates warmth and fun in the coldest, plainest days of the year.

WinklePicker is a weekend full of the best food, music, art, workshops, parading, and dancing - New Orleans-style. Renowned New Orleans chef Michelle Nugent will teach folks Cajun and Creole cuisine (yes, there IS a difference). Chris Smither, Buckwheat Zydeco and The Primate Fiasco will perform to take the chill off those February blues and get your winklepickers moving. Kids can learn Cajun fiddle, guitar and accordion at the Kids Cajun Music Camp. Visit the weekend-long exhibit saluting Mardi Gras culture and costuming with authentic New Orleans costumes on display. And wrap it all up at the Sunday Gospel Brunch at Elmer’s Store. There are weekend package and a la carte event prices to mix and match for the ideal weekend of your choice.

Events:

Michelle Nugent Cooking Workshops

Renowned New Orleans chef Michelle Nugent will teach Cajun and Creole cuisine (yes, there IS a difference) in three workshops. Students will then enjoy a leisurely meal of the dishes prepared during their workshop. Advance registration strongly recommended; workshops have limited capacity. Single and three-day workshop pricing. See website and below for sample menus.

Elmer’s Store (396 Main Street, Ashfield, MA 01330)

$65 one 3-hour demonstration & tasting; $175 3-class package

Tickets at Elmer’s Store (413-628-4003) and www.WinklePickerFest.com

Saturday, February 18 / 10:00 am - 2:30 pm

Mardi Gras Kids Music Camp (for kids age 10-15)

Fiddle players, accordion aces, and guitar players who want to learn the Cajun way will learn from Stuart Kenney (Dewey Balfa’s band) and friends. Registrants should bring their own instrument (fiddle, accordion, guitar) and have intermediate-level playing skills. This camp will teach Cajun stylings to expand your repertoire. The camp is 10:30am-2:30pm (participants bring their own bag lunch and WinklePicker will supply beverages). *Workshop registrants attend the workshops, rehearse as “The WinklePickers,” and then perform at the Mardi Gras Ball with Buckwheat Zydeco at 7:00 PM at the Ashfield Town Hall! Allons-y Enfants!

$25/Student (includes 1 adult ticket admission to the Chris Smither concert and the Buckwheat Zydeco concert and after-party)

Tickets at Elmer’s Store (413-628-4003) and www.WinklePickerFest.com

Saturday, February 18 / 3:00 PM

Chris Smither Matinee Concert w/ Andy Friedman

Ashfield Town Hall (412 Main Street, Ashfield, MA 01330)

$20 advance/$25 at the door (ga); Tickets at Turn It Up!, World Eye Books, Boswell’s Books, Elmer’s Store and www.WinklePickerFest.com

www.smither.com, www.andyfriedman.net

Saturday, February 18 / 7:00 PM

Mardi Gras Ball with Buckwheat Zydeco and After-Party with The Primate Fiasco

& After Party with The Primate Fiasco (at Elmer’s Store)

Ashfield Town Hall (412 Main Street, Ashfield, MA 01330)

$25 advance/$30 at the door (general admission); Tickets at Turn It Up!, World Eye Books, Boswell’s Books, Elmer’s Store and www.WinklePickerFest.com

www.buckwheatzydeco.com, www.theprimatefiasco.com

Combined Carnival Music Ticket: Admission to Chris Smither concert, Mardi Gras Ball w/ Buckwheat Zydeco, and after-party with The Primate Fiasco
$35 advance/$40 door (general admission)

Special Kids Concert Ticket: Admission to Chris Smither and/or Buckwheat Zydeco (one or both) - $10 ages 3-12

Sunday, February 19 / 9:30 & 10:45 AM

Elmer's All Gospel Revue Brunch featuring The Baptist Corner Revelators: Molly Johnson on clawhammer banjo and mandolin, Suz Slezak of the David Wax Museum on fiddle, and Greg Glassman of the David Wax Museum and The Sacred Shakers on guitar and clawhammer banjo.

Reservations required for 9:30 and 10:45 seatings - contact Elmer's 413-628-4003.

Get tickets for each event at Turn It Up! (Northampton, MA) , World Eye Books (Greenfield, MA), Boswell’s Books (Shelburne Falls, MA ), Elmer’s Store (Ashfield, MA) and www.WinklePickerFest.com

Calendar:

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17

2-5 PM: 2-5 PM: Cooking Workshop with Michelle Nugent CREOLE DINNER PARTY: Oysters Rockefeller, Seafood Gumbo, Pecan Fish Muniere, Bananas Foster (all menus subject to change)

7PM: Opening of the exhibit saluting Mardi Gras culture and costuming by some of the very best costumer makers in New Orleans. On display at the Ashfield Congregational Church throughout the WinklePicker weekend.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

10 AM - 2:30 PM Mardi Gras Kids Music Camp (for kids age 10-15). Fiddle players, accordion aces, and guitar players who want to learn the Cajun way will learn from Stuart Kenney (Dewey Balfa’s band) and friends.

11 AM - 2PM Cooking Workshop with Michelle Nugent NEW ORLEANS BRUNCH: Crabmeat Ravigote, Shrimp Creole, Grillades and Grits, Brandy Milk Punch

3PM Town Hall matinee concert with Chris Smither and Andy Friedman.

7PM Mardi Gras Ball w/ Buckwheat Zydeco & The WinklePickers (kids camp performers will play one song)

9:30 After-Party with The Primate Fiasco at Elmer’s

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Noon-3PM Cooking Workshop with Michelle Nugent CAJUN COUNTRY CUISINE: Cajun Style Jambalaya, Duck Gumbo, Crawfish Etouffée, Gateau de Sirop

Morning: Elmer’s All Gospel Revue Brunch featuring The Baptist Corner Revelators (Molly Johnson, Suz Slezak, Greg Glassman)